Tobacco-harvester.



F. H. COOK.

TOBACCO HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 17. 1911.

1,1 34,184 Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

12 SHBBTS-BHEET 1.

3 wumto'o F. H. COOK.

TOBACCO HARVESTER,

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I7, I9II.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

12 SHEETS-SHEET 2- F. H. COOK.

TOBACCO HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I7, I9II.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

12 SHEETS-SHEET 3- F. H. COOK.

TOBACCO HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 17. 1911.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

l2 SHEETSSHEBT 4.

ATTORNEY WITNESSES F. H. COOK.

TOBACCO HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.17. 1911.

1 11 3%, 1 8%; Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

12 SHEETS-SHEET 5- I after/v1 c4 1 F. H. COOK.

TOBACCO HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 17, 191 1.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

LJLSQJLQQ 12 SHEETS-SHEET 6- WIT/JESSE F. H. COOK.

TOBACCO HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.17, I911.

1, 1 34, 184,, Patented Apr. 6, 1915.v

l2 SHEETSSHEET K.

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Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

l I. f .l I i l I I H F. H. COOK.

TOBACCO HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 17, 1911.

F. H. COOK.

TOBACCO HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-17. 1911.

1,1 31, 184. Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

12 SHBBTS-SHEET 10.

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TOBACCO HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 17, 1911.

1,1 34, 184 Patented Apr. 6,1915.

12 SHEETS-SHEET 11.

.. I ATTORNEY F. H. COOK.

TOBACCO HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-17, 1911.

1 1 S4, 1 84 Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

12 SHEETS-SHEET 12- Ti A5? UNITED STATES PATENT onnicn.

FREDERICK H. COOK, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIG-NOR OF ONE-HALF '10 ROBERT N.KING,

' OF DAYTON, OHIO.

TOBAOOO-HABVESTER.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FREDERICK H. Cook, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county ofMontgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefillImprovements in Toba'cco- Haryesters, of which the followin is aspeclficatlon.

My invention re ates to harvesters, and particularly to machines forharvesting heavy or luxuriant growths, and 1s especially adapted forharvesting tobacco, but may be also used for harvesting other similargrowths.

Tn harvesting tobacco it has heretofore been the custom to sever thegrowing stalks by hand, lay the severed stalks upon the ground to wiltand after the plant has sufficiently wilted, to gather the stalks andsecure themupon supports or laths by hand, and thereafter suspend thelaths with the lant in inverted position to dry or cure.

his method of harvesting is very laborious and involves a great amountof hand labor and requires considerable time. The leaves of the tobaccoplant are very tender and easily bruised or torn and any injury to theleaves materially decreases the value of the plant. The harvestingoperation therefore requires great care and it is desirable that theplant be handled as little as possible, to avoid injury to the tenderleaves.

The object of the present invention is to provide a machine automatic inits action,

eflicient in use, simple in construction, capable of being operated byan operator unskilled in the usual methods of harvesting tobacco, andunlikely to get out of repair.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for severing thegrowing stalk and for supporting the stalk during the severing operationand guiding it thereafter in such manner that the tender leaves Will-befully protected and any possibility of injury thereto obviated.

A further object is to provide improved conveyer mechanism adapted toindependently engage the severed stalks and convey them through apredetermined path of travel, and further to provide means forautomatically engaging the severed stalks upon a movable support inpredetermined spaced relation and to provide means for discharging thesupport and attached stalks when a predetermined quantity of stalks havebeen secured thereon.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 17, 1911.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915. Serial No. 615,060.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view, as willmore fully appear 1n the specification, the invention consists of thefeatures of construction, the parts and combinations thereof and themode of operation or their equivalents as hereinafter described and setforth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the assembledmachine. Fig. 2 IS a detail plan view somewhat diagrammatic of theassembled machine, with the superstructure removed showing the variousdriving connections. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the assembledmachine, the rear portion thereof being broken away. Fig. 3 is acontinuation of Fig. 3 showing the rear portion of the machine, the viewbeing somewhat diagrammatic. Fig. 4: is a front elevation of theassembled machine. Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of the severingmechanism, the follower devices which engage the stalks during theseverating operation and the actuating mechanism therefor. Fig. 6 is adetail side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is adetail plan view of the transfer mechanism and the means for engagingthe severed stalks upon the supporting lath, and for distributing thestalks thereon in predetermined spaced relation. Fig. 8 is adiagrammatic plan View showing the driving connection of the variousparts shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail plan view of themechanism shown in Fig. 7 showing the conveyer mechanism and also thetransfer mechanism, for transferring the severed stalks from theconveyer to the supporting lath and the spacing fingers adapted tolocate the stalks in proper relation upon the lath. Fig. 10 is a sideelevation partly in section of the mechanism shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 11 isa transverse sectional view looking toward the rear or from the right inFig. 3. Fig. 12 is an enlarged plan view of the rear portion of themachine or that portion shown in Fig. 3*. Fig. 13 is a detail plan viewof the feeding mechanism for the movable supports. Fig. 14 is asectional elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 13. Fig. 15 is alongitudinal sectional view through the rear portion of the machineillustrating the support feeding and discharging devices. Fig. 16 is adetail view of the non-repeating clutch, employed for intermittentlydriving the conveyer mechavni sm and also the follower mechanism. 'Fig.

' the support discharging devices. a a 'detail view 'of a modificationof the sup- 17 is a detailview of the operatin cam for ig. 18 1B indevices. I like parts are indicated by similar charactors of referencethroughout the several views.

In constructin the machine there is employed a main ame supplorted onoppositely disposed carryln w eels 2 and 3 and a swivel 'ding weel 4located at the front of ti machine. The car ng wheel 3 constitutes thedriving wheel om which the various actuating parts are driven by meansof a sprocket chain or belt 5, connecting a sprocket upon the shaft ofthe carrying or drivin wheel 3 with a corresponding s' rocket ocatedupon a transverse shaft 6 adjacent to the forward portion of the machineL The main drive shaft 6'is ada ted to be engaged or disengaged from the've wheel 3 by 'means of a c utch 7 operated by a hand lever 8 in theusual manner. Thus the operating parts may be disconnected and remain atrest when it is desired to transport the machine from place to place.Carried upon the transverse drive shaft 6 is a beveled gear 9 meshingwith a corresponding pinion 10 on the shaft of a crank 11. Carried'bythe crank 11 is a pitman 12 operating reciprocating severin devices 13lo cated in a throat 14 forme by the divergent arms 15 which projectforward from the main portion of the frame.

The standing stalksentering between the arms 15 as the machine advancesare ided to the severing devices 13. Carried y the arms 15 and extendingrearward over a portion of the main frame are two ding shields 16 and 17of sheet metal or 0t er material presenting a smooth continuous surfaceover which the leaves of the plant will ride without dan er of injuryorabrasion. The guiding shie ds 16 and 17 are curved throughout theirlength, the outermostinclined toward shield 17,

shield 16 be while the guidlng shield 17 is inclined away from theshield 16, thereb forming intermediate the shields 16 an 17 a curved orwinding throat or passage which will cause the severed stalks conveyedtherethrough to be gradually inclined from a perpendicular'pos'ition-The inner shield 17 extends over the greater portion of the main frameas shown in Fig. 1 protecting the driving thereof and preventing theleaves of the severed plant from being caught inthe moving parts and.mutilated thereby. The innermost shield 17 also forms a support for thesevered stalks over which they ride until lifted therefrom by theconveying mechanism as hereinafter described. Located adjacent to theinnermost forward extending arm 15 and beneath the aide shield ,17 is anintermittently operate folvane 21 secured u on a revoluble sleeve 22journaled on the ollower arm 19. Each of the sleeves 22 carries a gearmember 23 adapted to engage a mutilated gear or rack member 24 securedto the su porting bracket 25 in which the rotary follbwer head 18 ismounted. The normal position of the guiding vane 21 is horizontal;however after the rotary head 18 has been revolved to the point wherethe followerarms 19 emerge from the slot 20 of the guiding shield 17,the gear member 23 of the sleeve 22 will en ge the rack 24 beforementioned, and w' cause a partial rotation of the sleeve 22, oscillatingthe guiding vane 21 from a horizontal position to a substantiallyvertical position as shown in ,Figs. 5 and 6. The erection of theguiding shield 21 occurs just prior to the engagement of the 'stalk bythe severing devices, whereby the guidin shield will be in position tosupport the sta during the severing operation, and by the advancemovement of the follower arms will deflect the stalk, after beingsevered onto the guiding shield 17.

In the drawings the head 18 has beenshown as provided with two followerarms 19, but it is to be understood that additional follower arms may beprovided, or that a single arm may be employed in which case the speedof rotation of the head 18 will be accordingly modified. The followermechanism 'ust describedis intermittently actuated, belng operated onlyat time when the stalk is about to be severed. The mechanism for drivingthe follower devices is set in motion by the standing stalk engaging atrip arm 25 normally projecting across the throat 14 nd adapted toengage the standing stalk is the machine advances, and to be oscillatedthereby. To the trip member 25 is connected a link 26 attached at itsopposite end to a lever 27 adapted to operate acluch member 28. p I

The clutch 28 may be of any desired construction but is preferably ofthe nonrepeat t whereby the clutch will automatically sconnect. afterhaving made a predetermined rotation. As shown in the drawings thenonrepeat clutch 28 comprises a disk 29, having a peripheral flange 30provided with a notch 31, the disk 29 being mounted on the drive shaft6. clutch member comprises a housing 32 mounted upon the driven shaft 33rotating within a collar or sleeve 34, the housing and sleeve having inthe edge'thereof registering notches 35. Pivoted within the housing 32is theclutch member 36 spring pressed away from the disk 29 and normallyresting in the notches 35 of the housing 32 in the collar 34. Upon theengagement of the trip lever 25 with the standing stalk, the lever 27will be operated to disengage the clutch member 36 from the notches 35of the housing 32 and collar or sleeve 34 and move said clutch member 36into engagement with the notch 31 of the disk 29. Upon engagement of theclutch member 36 with the disk 29 carried upon the drive shaft 6, thehousing 32 and therewith the driven shaft 33 will 'be' carried in unisonwith the drive shaft 6, the clutch member 36 engaged in the notch 31 ofthe disk 29 and riding upon theedge of the collar 34 until it has madeone complete rotation, at which times the spring 37 tending to oscillatethe clutch member36 away from the disk 29, will causesaid member toreturn to engagement with the notch 35 upon the clutch 36 reaching suchpoint in its rotation. Thus it will be seen that the driven member 33will be rotated through one complete revolution at each operation of theclutch 28, and furthermore that operation of said clutch 28idepends uponthe engagement of the machine with the standing stalk to be harvested.The driven shaft 33 carries a beveled pinion 38 meshing with acorresponding gear 39 located upon a vertical shaft 40 upon the lowerend of which is carried a sprocket Wheel 41, over which passes a drivechain 42 engaging a corresponding sprocket 43 upon the shaft of therevoluble follower head 18, this construction is clearly shown in Figs.5 and 6, and constitutes the intermittently operating mechanism of thefollower devices.

By causing the standing stalk to trip the clutch mechanism as beforedescribed to operate the follower devices, the operation of said deviceswill be properly timed in relation to the stalks to be harvested,regardless of their intervals or regularity of the spacing in the rows.

After having been severed by the reciprocating severing devices 13 anddeflected laterally upon the guiding shield 17 by the guiding vanes 21of the follower devices, the

; stalk is engaged by gripper devices carried upon an elevating chain44. The elevator chain islocated at the right hand side of the machine,and extends adjacent to the throat 14 through which the stalks enter toThe corresponding of travel of the severing devices. The elevator chainpasses over sprockets 45 and 46 located on the lower forward portion ofthe machine, from which it extends upward and rearward as shown inFigs.v 3 and 3, passing over idler sprockets 47 and 48 at .the'up errearward portion of the machine, an thence over the drive'sprocket 49.The conveying chain 44 carries a pluralitv of gripper members adapted toindependently engage each of the severed stalks and convey them upwardand rearward toward the rear ofthe machine. Located at intervals uponthe :elevator chain 44 is a series of lugs each formed into a collar oris substantially in alinement with the path the chain orelevator 44.Revolubly mounted in each of the collars or sleeves 50 is a secondsleeve or barrel 51 from which projects an integral or rigid finger 52.

Pivotally supported upon a suitable lug carried by the sleeve or barrel51 is a bell lever 53 terminating at its extremity in a curvedgripper'member 54. The bell lever 53 is spring pressed bya spring 55toward a stationary finger 52' as clearly shown in Fig. 9. The lateralarm of the bell lever 53 is provided with a cam-face 56 adapted toengage corresponding cam members 57 located at predetermined points uponthe. main frame 1. the main frame as the gripper member is carried pastsaid cam by the traveling chain, the bell lever 53 is oscillated toseparate the gripper fingers 52 and 54 whereby they may either engage orrelease the severed stalk. Such separation of the gripper fingers 52 and54 places the spring 55 under tension, whereby said spring will tend toclose the gripper fingers, upon disengagement of the cam face 56 withthe cam 57. The bell lever 53 and the gripper fingers 52 and 54 beingcarried by the sleeve or barrel 51, which is journaled in the collar 50are revoluble in their relation to the chain 44. The guiding sprocket 45over which the elevator chain 44 passes is located slightly forward ofthe severing devices 13, whereby the gripper members carried by theelevator chain 44 will engage the stalk at the time the stalk is beingsevered by the devices 13.

As the severed stalk is deflected by the guiding vane 21 and the windingformation of the throat 14 due to the curvature of the guiding shieldsl6 and 17, the sleeve or barrel 51 of the gripper member oscillateswithin the sleeve or collar 50 to compensate for such movement of thesevered plant. It is to be understood that one of the cam menr bers 57is so located on the frame that it will cause the gripper fingers 52 and54 to be opened to engage the stalk as the stalk is being severed by thedevices 13, and as the gripper member advances it will disengage sleeve50, the axis of which 30 Upon engaging the cam 57 upon the cam 57whereupon the spring will cause the fingers 52 and 54 to Securely gripthe stalk of the plant. As the gripper member travels upward andrearward with the elevator chain 44 the stalk is lifted from the pointwhere it is disengaged from the conveyer mechanism as hereinafterdescribed. Like the follower mechanism herein before described, theelevator mechanism is intermittently operated and such operation thereofis controlled'by the engagement with the machine of the standing stalkto be harvested.

Carried upon the drive shaft 6 adjacent to the gear pinion 59 is asecond gear pinion 58 meshing with the corresponding pinion 59, locatedon the driving portion of the countershaft 60, transversely arrangedupon the main frameto the rear of the shaft 6. The drive portion of thecountershaft 60 is adapted to be intermittently engaged with the drivenportion thereof by a nonrepeat clutch 61 corresponding to the clutch 28before described. After having engaged and operated the.trip lever 25before mentioned and just before being engaged by the severing devices13 the standing stalk engages and oscillates a second trip lever 62connected by a link 63 with a bell lever 64, which in turn is connectedby alink 65 with an operating lever 66 adapted to cause the engagementof the nonrepeat clutch 61, by which the elevating mechanism isintermittently actuated. Carried upon the driven portion of thecountershaft 60 is a sprocket engaged by a sprocket chain 67 adapted todrive a transverse shaft 68 adjacent to the rear of the main frame. SeeFig. 2.

At the extremity of the transverse shaft 68 and beyond the main frame iscarried a sprocket wheel over which travels a sprocket chain 69extending rearwardly. and upwardly and driving a sprocket wheel 70mounted upon a short shaft or trunnion 71 which carries at its oppositeend the driving sprocket 49, of the elevator chain 44. The elevatingmechanism and driving connections thereof are best illustrated in Figs.2, 3, and 3.

As the severed stalks approach the upper rearward limit of the path oftravel of the elevator chain 44. they are disengaged from the gripperdevices of the elevating mechanism and transferred through an arcuatepath to a suitable supporting member hereinafter described, by revolubletransfer mechanism. The transfer mechanism comprises a revoluble head 72supported in a pendant osition from an inward projectmg arm carried onthe main frame, as particularly shown in Fig. 10. .The revolule transferhead 72 is provided with a plurality of radial arms 73 each of whichcarries a downward projecting lipor lug 74, which forms a stationarygripper jaw. Shdmgly mounted in each of the radial arms 73 s areciprocating member 75, spring pressed .mwa-rd bya helical spring 76and carrying on its outer extremity a downward pro ecting gripped jaw77, movable to and from'the stationary gripper jaw 74, by thereciprooatory movement of the member 75.

Secured upon each of the reciprocating members is a bearin block 7 8upon which is ournaled a roller 9. As the transfer head 72 rotates therollers 79 of each of the reclprocatory members 75 located on therotating arms 73, ride upon the irregular periphery of the stationarycam carried upon the inward projecting arm 72. The engagement of therollers 79 with the irregular periphery of the cam 80 causes therespective sliding members 75 to be reciprocated, at predeterminedpoints in the rotation of the head 72, against the tension of thehelical spring 76, thereby distending or opening the gripper jaws77 and74;;

The rotation of the transfer head 72 is so timed that the gripper jaws77 and 74 will register with the gripper fingers 52 and 54 of theelevator mechanism, and the cam 80 is so located in relation to therotary transfer head 72-that the gripper jaws 77 and 74 will approachthe point of registry with the gripper fingers 52 and 54 in distended oropened position, ready to engage over the upturned end of the severedstalk at which time the rollers 79 will pass off of the shoulder cam 80and the helical spring 76 will reciprocate the member 75 to cause thegripper jaws 77 and 74 to close upon theextremity of the severed stalk.At the moment'of engagement of the severed stalk by the jaws 77 and 74of the transfer device thecam face 56 of the bell lever 53 will engagethe cam member 57 oscillating said lever which will cause the gripperfingers 52 and 54 of the elevating mechanism to disengage the stalkleaving it suspended from the gripper jaws 77 and 74. The elevator chain44 is driven at a water linear speed than the rotary trans. er head 72,therefore the gripper fingers 52 and 54 upon their disengagement fromthe severed stalk will be carried away from the stalk and out of the aththereof. Thus the severed stalk is le suspended from the radial arms ofthe rotary transfer head 72, by which it is carried through an arcuatepath to the support or lath waiting to receive it as hereinafterdescribed. The rotary transfer head is driven from the sprocket 81,carried on the transverse rotary stud or trunnion 71 common to thesprockets pinion 85 upon the upper end of the vertical upon a transversecountershaft 83 mounted" in suitable bearing on the main frame. Thecountershaft 83 carries at its inner extremity a beveled pinion 84meshing with a similar shaft of therotary transfer head 72. The drivingconnections of the rotary transfer head 72 are best shown in Figs. 7 and10,

while the detail construction of the rotary transfer head is best shownin Figs. 9 and 10.

Located upon the upper rear portion of the main frame is a magazine orcontainer for a supply 86 of supporting members or laths sharpened atone end, or provided with a removable sharpened'head as shown in Fig.18, and adapted to be projected singly.

into the path of the severed stalk carried by the rotary transfer head72 whereb the severed stalk will be impaled upon tiie sharpened point ofsaid lath or support. The supportingmembers or laths may be either ofwood or of metal pointed at the receiving end to more readily pierce thestalk or they may be provided with interchangeable pointed spear heads87 as shown in Fig. 18.

The location of the magazine for the laths or supports is best shown inFig. 1 while an enlarged detail plan view thereof is shown in Fig. 12.The feeding mechanism for the laths or supports is shown in detail inFigs.

13 and 11.

The series of independent pointed laths forming the supply 86 arearranged in transverse position and rest upon longitudinal bars 88. Aseach successive lath is fed from the magazine or receiver by themeansherein after described, the remaining laths or supports areadvanced toward the discharged point of the receiver by a follower head89 which may be spring actuated but is preferably actuated by means of acable 90 attached. to the rearward projecting arm 91 carried by saidfollower head, the cable 90 passing over pulleys 92 and carrying at itsextremity a weight not-shown in the drawings.

The side members 93 of the support magazine or container. The lug 95located at the left side of the machine is hooded to prevent verticaldisplacement of the vertical supports or laths while in engagementtherewith and immediately below said lug is provided an abutment 95 forthe-supports or laths during the impaling process by which the severedstalks are secured thereon. The longitudinal bottom bars 88 upon whichthe supports or laths are carried within the magazine terminate in aplane adjacent to the inward projecting lugs 94 and 95 leav-' ingsufficient space through which the lath or support in engagement withthe lugs 94 and 95 may be projected downward from the magazine and pastthe ends ofthe supporting bars 88. Located'adjacent to the forwardportion of the magazine, in position to engage theforemost support orlath therein and eject it from said magazine through adownward path intoposition to receive the advancing stalks are two vertically movingplungers '96zofl'set or shouldered as at 96 to engage the lath orsupport. These vertical plungers 96 are mounted in suitable ways on themain frame and are operated by means of a gear sector 97 engagingcorresponding gear rack formed on the plungers 96. The gear sector 97 isprovided with a rock arm 98 engaged by a downward projecting link 99connected at its opposite endto a lever 100 pivoted to the mainframe-of'the machine as shown in Fig. 15. The lever 100 carries at itsextremity a roller 101 engaging a cam 102 adapted by its rotation tooscillate the lever 100. The cam member 102 is rotated by means of agear 108 mounted on the shaft common with said cam and driven by apinion 104 carried onv the extremity'of the transverse drive shaft 124located in the rear lower portion of the machine. A retracting spring105 is provided for the lever 100 which is adapted to maintain saidlever 100 in engagement with the irregular periphery of the cam 102. Asthe lever 100 is oscillated by means of the retracting spring 105 uponthe rotation of the cam 102, the lever operates through the link 99 tooscillate the gear sector 97, thereby causing a downward movement of theejector plungers 96 the shoulders of which engage the foremost supportor lath within the magazine and carry it downward therefrom. Pivotallysupported beneath the support magazine are swinging guard plates 106movable to and from the reciprocating plungers 96 and adapted to bemoved into parallel relation therewith upon the downward movement ofsaid plungers to form a guide or chute to direct the movement of thesupport orlath during its passage from the magazine. The swinging plate106 will form one side of such chute or guide way, while the verticalplunger 96 will form the opposite side thereof.

Referring particularly to Figs. 13 and 11 there is mounted on "the shaft107 upon which is carried the gear sectors 97 a cam member 108 havingtwo irregular cam grooves therein 109 and 110. This cam member 108 beingcarried upon the shaft 107 oscillates in unison with the gear sectors.97. Journaled in the main frame is a rock shaft 111 carrying at one endthereof a rock arm 112 engaging the cam groove 109 of the cam member108. At its outer extremity the rock shaft 111 carries a rock arm 113pivotally connected to a second rock arm 114 secured upon a roclhshaft115, upon which is rigidly carried the swingin ide members 106. Thusupon the oscil atlon of the shaft 107 by means of the lever 100 and thelink 99 as before described, the cam member 108 carried therewith willcause an oscillatory movement of the rock arm 112 which en gages in thecam groove 109 thereby rocking-the shaft 111 and the arm 113 whlchthrough its engagement with the rock am /114 will cause a correspondingoscillation of through the throat or passage way formed intermediate theguiding members 106and said vertically moving plungers 96. The lath thusejected from the magazine will be carried into the path of theadvancingsevered stalks and will beheld stationary therein while a plurality ofthe stalks are engaged upon said lath or support as herein afterdescribed.

In order to support the lath in position to receive the stalks thereisprovided a transverse rock shaft 116 located below the shaft 107 havingrock arms or plates 117 carried thereon, to each of which rock arms orplates 117 there is pivoted anoscillating I finger 118 upon which thelath or support niay rest. These fingers 118 normally project into the ph of the lath or support as it is carried rom the magazine, and intothat of the advancing stalks, but are adapted to be oscillated out ofsuch path through a horizontal plane of oscillation against the tensionof their retracting springs 119 to permit the passage of the severedstalks which have been impaled u on the lath or support. There areaplura ityof the rock arms or plates 117 carried upon the shaft 116 andall such plates 117 operate in unison upon the oscillation of the shaft116. However the supporting finger 118 carried upon each of the rockarms or plates 117 may be oscillated independent of each other againstthe tension of their individual springs 119. The lath or support restingupon the movable fingers 118 is now in position to receive the severedstalks which are impaled thereon and are afterward distributed atregular intervals throughout the length of' the support or lath. hesevered stalks being carried from the elevator mechanism by the gripperjaws 77'and 74 of the radial arms 73 carried by the rotary transfer head72 are pressed upon thesharpened point of the support or lath by theaction of said rotary arms 73 causing the sharpened point of the lath topierce the stalk which is firmly held by the gripper jaws 77 and 74until after it has been pierced by the support. The piercing or impalingoperation is assisted by means of. lugs traveling chains or belts 121arranged parallel with and on opposite sides of the stationary supportor lath, as shown in Figs. 7 and 9. -The pusher or spacingfingers 120passing around the drive pulleys 122 and 123 engage the rear side of thestalk and by their advance movement force the stalk upon the sharpenedpoint of the support thus assisti the gripper jaws.77 and 74 of thetrans er mechanism which maintain thelr engagement with the stalk untilafter the stalis impaled upon the support. After the stalk has beensecured upon the support the rollers 79 of the reciprocatory member 7 5of the transfer mechanism rides over the inclined surface of the cam 80.which reciprocates the member 75 to cause the disengagement of the jaws74 and 77 from the severed stalk, which is left impaled upon the supportwhile the transfer head 72 rotates the succeeding radial arms 73,bringing other stalks from the elevator mechanism to the support or'lath. After the stalks have been-impaled upon the lath or support andthe gripper jaws 74 and 77 of the transfer devices are disengagedtherefrom the stalk is slidingly adjusted on the support by theadvancing pusher or spacing fingers 120, which project inward fromeither side, engage behind the stalk and as the chains 121 travel abouttheir driving sprockets the stalk is advanced upon the support. When apredetermined number of stalks have been secured upon the'latliorsupport the lath i" s dischar ed from the machine and another lath is eddownward from the magazine into the path of travel of the stalks asbefore mentioned.

In order to drive the pusher or spacing fingers 120 at proper intervalsthere 1s provided in the main ortion of the machine immediately back 0the transverse shaft 68 a second transverse shaft 124. This shaft 124 isdriven by means of gear pinions from the shaft 68. In the drawings avariable speed mechanism comprising a series of shifting or slidinggears 125 is shown, the various gears of whlch may be engaged bythesliding or shifting movement with one of the gears 126 mounted upon thetransverse shaft 124,- thereby roviding means whereby thershaft 124 anthe pusher fingers 120 and the support discharge devices to behereinafter described, may be operated at different rates of speed.At'the right extremity of the transverse shaft 124 is'carried a beveledpinion 127 meshin with a corresponding pinion 128 mounte upon a verticalshaft 129 journaled in the main frame. At its upper extremity the shaftor" fingers 120 carried by 129 carries a gear pinion 130 meshing with asimilar pinion 131 mounted upon the lower extremity of the trunnion orshaft of the driving pinion 122 of one of the belts or chains 121carrying the pusher or spacing fingers 120. This construction is bestshown in Fig. 3". At its lower extremity the vertical shaft 129 carriesa gear 132 meshing with an idler gear 133 mounted upon the main framewhich in turn drives a third gear 134 carried upon the lower extremityof a second vertical shaft 135. The vertical shaft 135 carries a gearpinion 136 corresponding to the gear pinion 130 of the shaft 129. Thegear pinion 136 meshes with a pinion 137 carried upon the lowerextremity of the vertical trunnion or shaft of the drive sprocket 123carrying the other of the endless chains or belts 121 upon which issupported the second series of pusher or spacing fingers 120. Thetransverse shaft 68 being intermittently operated from the countershaft60 by means of the non-repeat clutch 61, it will be obvious that theshaft 124 and the vertical shafts 129 and 135 will also beintermittently operated, thereby driving the pusher fingers 120 througha step. by step movement. The lath or support feeding mechanismhereinbefore described and the lath or support discharging mechanism tobe hereafter described, being both operated from the transverse shaft124 by means of the gearpinion 104 mounted upon the left hand extremitythereof, will be operated in proper time with the pusher fingers 120. Itwill also be obvious that the speed of the said devices, that is thepusher fingers, the support feeding devices, and the support dischargingdevices, may be varied in relation to the remainder of the operatingparts by adjustment of the sliding or variable driving mechanism 125. Asthe severed stalks are slidingly adjusted to their predeterminedposition along the support or lath the stalks successively engage thepivoted supporting fingers 118, the said fingers yielding against theirsprings 119 to permit the passage of the stalk along the lath. Therebeing a plurality of the yielding fingers 118 engaging and supportingthe lath, which fingers are operated independently of each other, therewill always be sufiicient number of such fingers engaging and supportingthe lath while other fingers are yielding to permit the passage of thestalks thereon. 'When a predetermined number of severed stalks have beenimpaled upon the lath or support and have been shifted thereon by meansof the pusher fingers 120 to the predetermined spaced relation, thesupporting fingers 118 are simultaneously withdrawn from engagement withthe lath or support to permit the discharge thereof and another supportor lath is simultaneously ejected from the magazine or receiver intoosition to receive the oncomin stalks. ivotally supported on the mainame of the machine adjacent to the cam member 108 is a lever 138 havinga stud or roller engaging in the cam groove 110 of thev said member 108.Connected to the extremity of the lever 138 is a link 139 engaging atits opposite extremity a rock arm 140 carried on the rock shaft 116 uponwhich are sup- Iported the rock arms 117 and the yielding ngers 118. Theinitial movement of the cam 108 upon the oscillation of the shaft 107necessary to cause the gear sectors 97 to operate the plungers 96 toeject the next support or lath from the magazine, causes an oscillatorymovement of the lever 138 which is transmitted through the link 139 andthe rock arm 140 to the rock shaft 116,

thereby oscillating the rock arms or plates 117 upon which are pivotedthe yielding fingers 118, to withdraw the said fingers 118 from beneaththe lath or support which being weighted'by the severed stalk will movedownward by gravity out of the path of the next succeeding lath which isbeing carried down. by the ejector plungers 96.

If the support or lath with the severed stalks impaled thereon shouldnot move readily upon the withdrawal of the, supporting fingers 118 thenext succeeding lath being pressed downward by the ejectors 96 willengage-the upturned ends of the stalks and will push the support andstalks carried thereon downward and out of its path. The oscillation ofthe shaft 107 to cause the feeding of the next succeeding support orlath and the withdrawal of 'the support or lath upon which the severedstalks have been impaled is caused by the oscillation of the lever 100and the link 99 before described as shown in Fig. 15. The relativeproportion ofthe gear pinion 104 and the gear 103 by which the cam 102is rotated, thereby controlling the movement of the lever 100, is suchthat the support ejecting mechanism will only be operated after apredetermined number of stalks have been engaged upon the supports. Journaled in suitable bearings on the main frame and to the rear of thetransverse shaft 124 is a rock shaft 141 forming a part of anoscillating frame including the swinging arms 142 located at each sideof the machine having notches or recesses 143 in its upper extremitiesadapted to receive the loaded support or lath and convey the lath orsupport and the severed stalks attached thereon through an arcuate pathand deposit them upon the ground to the rear of the machine. The saidswinging discharge frame comprising the arms 142 is counterbalanced by aweighter arm 144 carried upon the transverse shaft 141, the weight 145of which is adjustable thereon. One of the swinging arms 142 is providedwith an inward projecting arm 146 engaging a cam 147 located on theshaft of the cam 102 and gear 103 which by its engagement with the armor finger 146 is adapted to oscillate the frame member 142 through alimited path of travel. As the.

cam 147 rotates and simultaneously with the operation of the-supportejector mechanism controlled by the cam 102, the cam 147 permits theswinging frame members 142 to advance under the influence of theweighted arm 144 until the vnotches or recesses 143 will extend into thepath of the loaded support or lath as it drops downward from. betweenthe pusher fingers 120 upon the withdrawal of the supporting fingers118.

' As the loadedsupport moves downward the opposite extremities thereofenga e the recess or notches 143 of the .arm 14 whereby the supports andthe stalks attached thereto will be carried solely b the swinging framemembers 142 indepen ent of the other portions of the machine. At thistime the cam,member 147 by its engagement with the arm 146 tends tooscillate the swlngmg I the notched portions '143 of the swin 'ng stalksare encountered.

frame members 142 will be withdrawn rom the support and the weighted arm144 will return the swinging frame members 142 again to. uprightposition.. The swingin frame members 142 are normally maintaine slightlyto the rear and out of the path of travel of the stalks and are allowedto advance to receive the loaded support only after a predeterminedquantity of stalks have been attached thereto. Thus the swinging framemembers are maintained out of the path of travel of the stalks until itbecomes'necessary to discharge the loaded support from the machine.

Operation of the machine: By the intermittent operation of the machineas before described, the time of operation of the several parts beingcontrolled by the standing stalks to be harvested the various operationsare performed in proper time and sequence regardless of the relativelocation of the plants in their rows. Thus it is immaterial whether theplants be regularly or irregularly spaced in the row, or whether themterval between the plants if regularly spaced is great or small. Theconstruction is such that the various parts of the machine will onlyoperate when a stalk is to be harvested regardless of the frequency withwhich the The machine being drawn across the field by a tractor, horsesor other propelling means encounters the standing stalks one at a time,each stalk oscillating the lever 25 to connect the clutch 28 whereby thefollower mechanism is caused to operate. As the machine adstalk, andafter the severing operation the rotating follower arm and guiding vane21 carry the stalk laterally onto the shield 17. At this time thesevered stalk is engaged b the butt or woody portion thereof by thelevator fingers'52 and 54 carried upon the elevating chain 44 and islifted from the supporting shield 17 into an inverted position, in whichposition it is carried rearward to the transfer mechanism. The gripperjaws 74 and 77 carried upon the radial arm 73 of the transfer head72(now. engage, the severed stalk and upon the release thereof from theelevator fingers 52 and 54, the

transfer headcarries the stalk through an arcuate path and-impales itupon the movable support or lath which has previously been fed to aposition in the; ath of the oncoming stalk. The pusher ngers 120 carriedon the traveling chains 121 now engage the stalk, and after assisting inthe impalingprocess slide it longitudinally upon the lath or support asthe said chains 121 are operated through a step by step movement, thesteps of which are determined by the engagement of succeeding standingstalks with the control lever 62. The path of travel of the severedstalks is indicated by dot and dash lines in Fig. 2, the'positions ofthe severed stalks being shown on said lines by the black disk. After apredetermined number of stalks have beenvimpaled upon the lath orsupport the lath or support is released and another lath is fed from themagazine. The loaded lath or support is discharged from the machine bythe swinging frame members 142. The plant being rather bushy and havingcomparatively broad leaves will afford some resistance to the air as theswinging frame 142 moves downward, thereby cushioning the fall of theplant upon the ground, and obviating danger of injuring the plant byviolent contact with. the ground upon its discharge from the machine.

From the above description it will be ap parent that there is thusprovided a machine of the character described possessing the I

